WHEN Taste of Manchester goes off on one of its country jaunts it keeps running into (not literally) rusting yellow bikes, legacy of the Tour de France’s Grand Depart annexation of our moorlands in 2014. What’s not to Lycra, we quip, and brush past into the pub.
This year’s Tour starts on Saturday, July 2 and seems to be confining itself mostly to that garlicky Gallic land we used to be ‘fellow members’ with. Still there’s a chance to sip deep of the Entente Cordiale one last time at the GRUB Pedal Powered Picnic in Sadler’s Yard from 12pm-8pm.
It’s in association with local cycle business and purvevors of excellent coffee, Pop Up Bikes, conveniently located down the nearby Dantzic Street beer corridor. Its trio of breweries, Marble, Runaway and Blackjack, will provide hoppy refreshment on Saturday, while the new can bar will feature some recently launched craft tinnies from Manchester’s Alphabet and Salford’s First Chop.
The bike market will feature vintage bikes and bike parts plus handmade bike accessories. Expect a range of bike activities alongside GRUB’s usual formula covering arts &and craft, vintage stalls, take-home food and free tastings, live music and DJs.
The event, organised by indie food and drink event whizzes GRUB, is free entry and you can find Sadler’s Yard at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood, opposite Manchester Victoria Station.
The Yard is also home to the ‘home-made’ community pub, The Pilcrow, gradually taking wooden shape and, as it nears completion, offering its latest batch of allied, eclectic workshops. Check out ‘Batch 3', which feature activities such as 3D printing, coffee tasting, and horticulture.
We plan to make a beeline (or should that be beehive) for the Pilcrow finally opens its doors to serve some ales. Which we fully expect to be locally sourced and excellent.
Saturday, July 2. 12pm-8pm. Sadler’s Yard, Hanover Street, NOMA, Manchester M60 0AB.